Joe Hart will go down as a real iconic and legendary figure at Celtic now that he is well into his retirement from football.
Even before his arrival at Parkhead, Hart was already a legend in the game after picking up 75 caps for England, two English Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two English League Cups.
In three seasons in Glasgow, Hart also became the second-ever Celtic player to win every domestic honour on both sides of the border as he picked up seven trophies out of nine which included the record-breaking eighth domestic treble.
But that wasn’t what he was talking about when he admits he got to something that footballers rarely get to do in their careers and Hart is pleased he got to have his ‘unique’ memory at Celtic.
Hart’s Celtic love for ‘a truly special club’
The former England international had a very particular affinity with Celtic and its supporters. Hart took Celtic to heart when he signed, and the supporters knew that right away. Hart was 34 years old.
Hart acknowledges that he “loved” the team and claims that’s why he was able to accomplish something “really unique,” something that other football players don’t often get to do in their careers.
“I got to do something really unique, I think because football’s a fast business,” Hart stated on The High Performance Podcast. I made the decision to finish. I wanted to take pride in the knowledge that I would succeed.
“I informed folks beforehand. I told a very particular football team that I loved them and that I wanted to end my career with them. I had no desires.
“I didn’t want anything else from football. Whether it had anything to offer me, I don’t know. I didn’t have to do those chess moves. I didn’t even want to go into that.
“And spoke from the heart about something and it might not have gone well. We were probably second in the league when I said it, and we had a cup final where we were going to have to play our greatest rivals, I could have walked away potless in my last season.
“But I just wanted people to know that even though I was finishing, I wanted to finish strong.
“And did finish strong after that.”
Similar to several supporters of the Celtics, I could hear Joe Hart talk about the team nonstop. You can tell that he genuinely loves and cares about the Parkhead club, the players, and the supporters just by hearing the emotion in his voice.
Hart has been making an impression as a commentator at Euro 2024, sharing his knowledge of the game in front of the cameras in his own special way.
Celtic fans will be closely monitoring Hart, a former hero they hold in high regard, for whatever he chooses to do after his summertime punditry duties is over.
